McO announces today that Carol Merchasin, known as “the Cult Assassin,” will step down from her position effective 9 December 2025. For the past three years, Carol has been the driving force behind the firm’s pioneering Sexual Misconduct in Spiritual Communities practice.
During her tenure, Carol achieved what few lawyers have attempted: securing justice for victims and survivors of high-control, male-dominated religious groups and gurus. Her caseload included high-profile actions against figures such as Michael Shoemaker (aka Swami Chetanananda), Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, Lama Norlha Rinpoche, and Swami Muktanada.
Carol Merchasin
In addition to litigating against religious leaders, Carol led several groundbreaking human trafficking cases, including the firm’s ongoing case against Shen Yun. Her advocacy extended beyond the courtroom; she has appeared on over 30 podcasts and is frequently cited as an expert on spiritual abuse. Her aggressive pursuit of justice earned her titles in the press ranging from “the Wonder Woman of taking down cults” to a “magnificent legal warrior.”
We are immensely grateful to Carol for her leadership and the standard of excellence she set at McO. Replacing Carol directly would be impossible. From the beginning, we knew our time with her would be limited, and we are fortunate to have held onto her for this long. We wish her the absolute best as she begins her next chapter working with survivors in a non-legal capacity.
Following Carol’s departure, our Sexual Misconduct in Spiritual Communities practice will be fully integrated into McO’s US Practice. This transition ensures the firm will continue the critical work Carol established.